Toe iron for safety ski bindings which is suitable for downhill and cross-country skiing

ABSTRACT

1,188,554. Ski bindings. H. MARKER. 17 Aug., 1967 [5 Sept., 1966], No. 37982/67. Heading A6D. A toe piece for safety ski bindings suitable for downhill and cross country skiing comprises a fixed member I adapted to be secured to the ski forwardly of the ski boot, a pivot pin 5 mounted on the fixed member for transverse displacement from the longitudinal axis of the ski, the pin 5 being perpendicular to the surface of the ski, a spring 11 operatively connected between the fixed member and the pin to resist relative movement between the pin and the fixed member, and a pair of rearwardly extending sole-holding members 6, 7 for receiving therebetween and engaging the ski boot, the sole-holding members being mounted on the pin and being held against pivotal movement when the pin is in the normal position relative to the fixed member but being free to pivot thereabout when the pin is displaced laterally a predetermined distance to either side of the normal position against the bias of the spring. The spring may be a compression or helical coil spring or gas spring and is mounted in a transverse recess 10 in the fixed member each end of the spring engaging a fixed abutment 13. The pivot pin and sole-holding members are mounted on a carrier 4 which is slidably retained in the fixed member e.g. by guide roller 19 in transverse groove 18, the carrier being further provided with guide rollers 20 and 21 operating on cam 22 and extending members 14, 15 engaging each end of the spring. Transverse displacement of the pin causes compression of the spring tending to return the pin to the normal position but when displacement exceeds a predetermined distance one of the rollers 20 or 21 moves free of the cam 22 thereby enabling pivotal movement of the respective sole holder about the pin with release of the boot from the binding.

Jan. 20, 1970 H. MARKER 3,490,781

TOE IRON FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR DOWNHILL AND CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Filed Aug. 14, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Flg 2 z 22 n 10 14 4 23 25 PM." I

' IlIlllf um I am I I w unlnlm H. MARKER TOE IRON FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR DOWNHILL AND CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1967 United States Patent C) 3,490,781 TOE IRON FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR DOWNHILL AND CROSS- COUNTRY SKIING Hannes Marker, Hauptstrasse 51-53, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Filed Aug. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 660,255 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 5, 1966, M 70,821 Int. Cl. A63c 9/00 US. Cl. 280-11.35 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Two soleholders laterally engage the skiing boot and are pivoted to a common pivot pin, which is held to the toe iron so as to be displaceable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski. A predetermined transverse displacement of the pivot pin is required to permit of a forward pivotal movement of either of the soleholders. The pivot pin is transversely displaceable against the force of a spring element, by which it is also held in its normal position. Said spring element returns the pivot pin to its normal position after a transverse displacement when the force has decreased.

This invention relates to a toe iron for safety ski bindings, which toe iron is suitable for downhill and crosscountry skiing and comprises two soleholders, which laterally engage the skiing boot and are pivoted to a com mon pivot pin, which is held to the toe iron so as to be displaceable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski, a predetermined transverse displacement of the pivot pin being required to permit of a forward pivotal movement of either of the soleholders.

A known toe iron of this kind basically satisfies the requirement of being suitable both for downhill and cross-country skiing. On the other hand, that known toe iron has properties which are considered highly undesirable in modern skiing. In that known toe iron, the pivot pin which is displaceable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski is held by a detent device in its normal position. As a result, any force which acts on the soleholders in a direction which is transverse or at an oblique angle to the longitudinal direction of the ski and which is less than the releasing force cannot be taken up resiliently but is opposed by a rigid resistance. Only the releasing force, which overcomes the detent resistance, causes a displacement of the pivot pin so that the sole holder acted upon by said force performs automatically a pivotal movement to a position which enables a release of the skiing boot so that the endangered leg of the skier is relieved. The detent resistance may be changed to vary the releasing force so that the latter can be individually adjusted. An arbitrary adjustment of the detent resistance, however, may result in a wrong adjustment so that the safety afforded by the toe iron is eliminated.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toe iron of the kind described initially hereinbefore in which the pivot pin wihch is displaceable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski is free in its normal position of a detent action affording an adjustable resistance, and to design the toe iron in such a manner that it takes up resiliently and with a long damping excursion the forces which act transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski, so that slight lateral shocks, such as frequently occur during skiing, do not result in an unintended release, but the stronger forces which act on the leg during. a twist- 3,490,781 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 ing fall overcome the damping resistance and positively open one soleholder so that the foot is released from the ski.

In a toe iron having two soleholders laterally engaging the skiing boots, which soleholders are pivoted on a common pivot pin, which is held to the toe iron for a displacement transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski, a predetermined transverse displacement of the pivot pin being required to permit of a pivotal movement of either of the soleholders, this object is accomplished in that the pivot pin is transversely displaceable against the force of a spring element, by which it is also held in its normal position, and said spring element returns the pivot pin to its normal position after a transverse displacement when the force has decreased. The restoring element affords a sufficient strong resistance also during the initial transverse displacement of the pivot pin from its normal position so that a reliable grip is afforded to the foot in its skiing position.

For design reasons, the spring element acts suitably transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski. The spring element consists suitably of a compression spring consisting of a helical spring or gas spring.

An embodiment of the toe iron according to the invention which is simple and not liable to be deranged will be obtained if the spring element is mounted in a recess of a toe part which is rigid with the ski, the end faces of the spring element bear only in part against this toe iron part, and a transversely displaceable toe iron part is provided, which carries the pivot pin provided with the soleholders and has two drivers, which extend in the 1ongitudinal direction of the ski and respectively engage from behind the free portion of the end faces of the spring element. The transversely displaceable toe iron part may suitably be provided with a guide roller, which engages a transverse groove formed in the toe iron part which is rigid with the ski.

In a special devolpment of the toe iron according to the invention, each soleholder is pivoted to the pivot pin by a carrying arm and each carrying arm has a backing roller, which engages a cam on the toe iron part which is rigid with the ski. This cam has a central portion, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski and which is continued at both ends by end portions which are angled toward the tip of the ski. When a backing roller engages the end portion associated with it, the arm which carries the roller as well as the associated soleholder is pivotally moved to the release position.

In a design which is particularly desirable, each carrying arm consists of two parts, which are detachably interconnected. This design enables a simple adaptation of the soleholders to skiing boots having different widths. For an adjustment of the soleholders to soles having different thicknesses, the sholeholders may be held on the free end of the carrying arms so as to be adjustable in height, as is known per se.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the novel toe iron for safety ski bindings,

FIG. 2, a central longitudinal sectional view showing the toe iron according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3, a sectional view taken on line IIIIII of FIG. 1, the outer parts of the carrying arms and the soleholders being omitted,

FIG. 4 a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of FIG.

2 and FIG. 5 a sectional view taken on line VV of FIG. 2, the outer part of one carrying arm being shown in section below the soleholder.

A part 1 of the toe iron according to the invention is screwed to the ski 3 with screws 2. A toe iron part 4 is held to the toe iron part 1 for displacement transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski. The connection between parts 1 and 4 will be described more fully hereinafter. The displaceable toe iron part 4 has a pivot pin 5, on which two carrying arms 6, 7 for two soleholders 8 and 9, respectively, are pivotally mounted.

As is apparent from FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the fixed toe iron part 1 is formed with a recess 10, which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski and which receives a spring element consisting of a helical compression spring 11. The recess 10 is constricted at its ends to form a top ledge 12 and a bottom ledge 13. The helical compression spring 11 normally bears on said ledges with parts of each of its end faces. The intermediate portions of the end faces of the helical compression spring normally bears on drivers 14, 15, which are carried by the displaceable toe iron part 4 and extend in the longitudinal direction of the ski into the recess 10 and are normally disposed at the ends of the recess between the pairs of ledges 12/13.

The toe iron part 1 is provided with a transverse slot 16 between the recess 10 and that surface of the toe ir n part 1 which rests on the ski 3. A tongue 17 of the displaceable toe iron part 4 extends into the slot 16. The wall formed between the transverse slot and the ski-engaging surface of the toe iron part 1 is provided with a groove 18, which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski and which receives a guide roller 19, which is carried by the tongue 17 of the toe iron part 4. That wall of the toe iron part 1 which is disposed over the recess 10 is extended beyond the ledges 12 towards the trailing end of the ski so as to engage the toe iron part 4 from above and to form a guide bar for the same.

Each carrying arm 6, 7 has a backing roller 20 or 21, which engages a cam 22 on the toe iron part 1 which is rigid with the ski. That cam has a central portion, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski and which is continued at both ends by end portions, which are angled towards the tip of the ski (see particularly FIG. 3). Each carrying arm 6, 7 consists of two parts. The two parts of the carrying arm are detachably interconnected by a screw 23. To avoid an unintended pivotal movement of the parts of a carrying arm relative to each other, their contacting surfaces are formed with meshing teeth. The soleholders 8, 9 are provided at the free ends 24 of the outer parts of the carrying arms. Each soleholder is held by a screw 25, which is rotatably and axially non-displaceably mounted in the carrying arm. By a rotation of the screws 25, the soleholders can be moved up and down for adjustment to soles having different thicknesses. FIG. shows in dash-dot lines a toe portion of a skiing boot. The edge of the sole lies between said lines.

Under normal skiing conditions, the sufficiently stressed helical compression spring 11 holds the displaceable toe iron part 4 and with it the carrying arms 6, 7 and the soleholders 8, 9 in their normal or central position. The forces which act transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski on the toe iron part 4 in response to slight lateral shocks, which are not dangerous, are resiliently taken up by the spring 11 in a long damping excursion, the spring being compressed under the influence of either of the drivers 14 or 15 of the displaceable toe iron part. Upon a decrease of the forces, the displaceable toe iron parts are restored to their central position as the helical compression spring 11 is relaxed. Unless the forces acting on the toe iron part 4 transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski do not have the magnitude of the releasing force, the toe portion of the skiing boot will remain gripped between the two soleholders 8, 9 because a transverse displace en of the toe iron part 4 will first cause an engagement of the backing rollers 20, 21 of the carrying arms 6, 7 with the central portion of the cam 22, which portion is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski (see FIG. 4). When the force acting transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski reaches the magnitude of the releasing force, the spring 11 will be compressed to such an extent that the leading backing roller 20 or 21 in the direction of the displacement leaves the central portion of the cam 22 so that the force acting on the soleholder of the arm 6 or 7 carrying said backing roller causes a pivotal movement of said arm towards the tip of the ski, the backing roller of said arm running up on that portion of the cam 22 which is angled towards the tip of the ski. The pivotal movement of the carrying arm causes the soleholder to release the toe portion of the skiing boots so that the skiing boot will be released from the toe iron. When the toe portion of the skiing boot has been released so that the carrying arm is relieved, the helical compression spring 11 will restore the displaceable toe iron part and the carrying arms to their normal position. FIG. 3 shows in dash-dot lines the carrying arm 6 after an outward pivotal movement.

For an adjustment of the soleholders 8, 9 to skiing boots having a different width, it is sufiicient to loosen the screws 23 and to retighten them when the parts of the carrying arms have been readjusted.

What is claimed is:

1. A toe iron for safety ski bindings suitable for downhill and cross-country skiing comprising a first toe iron part for rigid attachment to a ski;

a second toe iron part slidably mounted on said first toe iron part for movement transverse to the direction of the ski;

a pivot pin carried by said second toe iron part;

a pair of soieholders for laterally engaging a skiing boot carried by said second toe iron part and mounted to pivot in common about said pivot pin with said soleholders being restrained from pivoting until said second toe iron part and said pivot pin carried thereby have experienced a predetermined transverse displacement; and

spring means providing a force against which said second toe iron part and pivot pin carried thereby are required to act when undergoing transverse displacement for holding said second toe iron part and pivot pin carried thereby in their normal position, and for returning said second toe iron part and pivot pin carried thereby to their normal position, after a transverse displacement, when the displacing force decreases.

2. A toe iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring means consists of a compression spring in the form of a gas spring.

3. A toe iron according to claim 1, and further comprising a recess in said first toe iron part for housing said spring means;

with a portion of the end faces of said spring means engaging said first toe iron part; and

said second toe iron part including two drivers ex tending in the longitudinal direction of the ski and respectively engaging the end faces of the spring means.

4. A toe iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring means acts transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski.

5. A toe iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring means consists of a compression spring in the form of a helical spring.

6. A toe iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the transversely displaceable second toe iron part has a guide roller, which engages a transverse groove in the first toe iron part which is rigid with the ski.

7. A toe iron according to claim 1, characterized in that each soleholder mounted on a carrying arm pivoted 5 6 to the pivot pin, and each carrying arm has a backing References Cited rfglelgartlhich bears on a cam provided on the first toe FOREIGN PATENTS 8. A toe iron according to claim 1, characterized in 1,126948 6/1956 Francethat the carrying arm consists of two parts which are 1,336,704 7/ 1963 Francedetachably interconnected. 5 1,438,299 4/1966 France.

9. A toe iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the soleholder is held at the free end of the carrying LEO FRIAGLIA Pnmary Exammer arm adjustment in height I. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner 

